WALTER SMITH is on the brink of quitting Rangers over the bid to oust Malcolm Murray as club chairman.

The legendary manager, now a non-executive director, is close to walking after the Ibrox board told Murray to go at the conclusion of the internal probe into alleged links with disgraced former owner Craig Whyte.

That centres on the conduct of Charles Green in particular and it’s understood Smith has become increasingly uneasy about the influence the former chief executive still holds at board level.

Green resigned three weeks ago but does not step down officially as a director until the end of the month.

Sources close to a major London investor claim that Green played a key role via a conference call in the boardroom talks aimed at axeing chairman Murray on Monday.

The inquiry into alleged links between Green and Whyte is expected to conclude within a fortnight but Murray is anxious to retain his role and plans to use the time left to regain the other board members’ confidence.

There has been disquiet expressed at senior level over the conduct of Murray since arriving at the club last summer but he believes he can muster enough support and win through in the end, particularly if he can regain the trust of directors not? previously allied to Green.

Sources claim Smith is unhappy Green continues to have a say in policy that will have a long-term effect on the club when he will only be officially part of the Ibrox boardroom for another few weeks.

It’s believed Smith understands the reasons why Murray has been asked to go but has baulked at the way it has been handled.